Simon Madden
AFL Premiership Champion, Leadership & Performance Expert
Simon Madden is an AFL premiership champion who now helps organisations win off the field. Blending elite sport discipline with business and education leadership, he equips teams to perform under pressure and achieve lasting success.
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Simon Madden’s background as an elite AFL athlete is well documented — but it is the insights he has drawn from decades in elite sport, business and education that make his expertise so valuable to organisations today.
A highly decorated AFL player and premiership winner, Simon’s sporting career is a testament to discipline, resilience and performance under pressure. Yet his greatest impact has come beyond the boundary line. He has successfully translated the principles of elite sport into the boardroom, the classroom and the wider business community.
Simon is more than a former AFL champion — he is a catalyst for transformation. With extensive experience across corporate leadership, education and people development, he combines practical wisdom with strategic thinking to inspire organisations to thrive.
His leadership credentials extend well beyond the field. As President of the AFL Players Association from 1985 to 1989, Simon played a pivotal role in advancing career development and welfare for hundreds of athletes. It was during this time that his passion for supporting people to reach their full potential truly flourished.
Simon also spent 15 years in education, including serving as a Vice Principal. This chapter of his career deepened his understanding of how learning, culture and leadership shape individual and team performance. He blends educational expertise with contemporary research and real-world insight to deliver practical strategies that drive accountability, alignment and measurable outcomes.
In the corporate world, Simon has built a strong reputation for leading cultural change and improving performance. His ability to distil complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies enables teams to focus, collaborate and perform at their best.
A seasoned media commentator with extensive experience in television and radio, Simon is a confident and engaging speaker. He is regularly sought after by business, government and media audiences for his perspectives on leadership, performance and resilience.
Whether addressing a conference audience or working closely with executive teams, Simon brings clarity, authenticity and a success-driven mindset that leaves organisations better equipped to perform under pressure and achieve sustained success.
